Lucha Vavoom: An Addictive Circus of Visual Feasts

Costumed bodies catapulting through the air, jaw-dropping aerial aerobics, and hilarious antics within the boxing ring were all complete with a high octane energy that no Pentecostal church could match, as the audience obediently answered the host’s call of LUCHA with VAVOOM. Yes, welcome to Lucha Vavoom, one of the wildest, most ridiculously entertaining experiences in Los Angeles, and possibly the world. A rambunctious fusion of traditional Lucha Libre, or Mexican wrestling, with haphazard comedic intervals and saucy burlesque performances, audience members were left confused, amused or disgusted, but of course, still aching for more. It was an addictive visual feast that saw contrasting elements being so seamlessly integrated with a cutting-edge precision that had you constantly on the edge of your seat.

Custom mask by Busted Brand.

Inside the Mayan Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the theatrics spiralled out of control, leaving me wondering “where the hell am I!?” Immediately transported from the external urban jungle of LA, I had been uplifted to another realm; a wonderland where anything was possible. The night was launched with Transmedia Superstar Neon Music who treated us to a rockstar performance, writhing on the floor of the stage as though being possessed by the music, and in turn leaving us in a trance.

Backstage we were enthralled with a range of magnetic performers, including the stunning Karis Wilde, a Vavoom veteran who has been with the show for 12-13 years. Karis humbly told us to “keep your expectations very low” and then proceeded to absolutely blow our minds with a gravity-defying hula-hoop dance.

When we asked Dirty Sanchez what tricks he had up his sleeves he replied with a cheeky “I’ve got nothing up my sleeves, look I’m wearing nothing but a tank top here. But that don’t mean I don’t have anything up my ass!” and then gave us a mischievous laugh. What a rascal! Later on in the night, we proceeded to witness Dirty Sanchez dig into his underwear and throw a brown substance (fake poo?!) at his opponent in the ring. Beware if you plan on sitting ringside, for you never know what the performers might have in store for you, as Dirty Sanchez decided that attacking his opponent wasn’t enough and continued to throw the fake poo at an extremely shocked audience. A word of advice: steer clear of wearing white.

We were wowed by Mosh, the Russian-American burlesque artist who treated us to a temperature-rising, heart-attack inducing performance, leaving the audience lusting for more.

Ending the night with a bang was Viktoria Modesta, a bionic artist who performed her latest track, complete with hypnotic high-vis reflective outfits that moved in synergy with the powerful beats.

Just as quickly as we had fallen down the rabbit hole the evening came to a close, leaving us dazed in a whirlwind of colourful costumes, flashing strobe lights, and an enchanting voice ringing in my ears, calling out to me – LUCHA. I softly responded under my breath, VAVOOM.